SAFETY IN THE SAFETY IN THE COMPUTER LABCOMPUTER LABSAFETY IN THE SAFETY IN THE COMPUTER LABCOMPUTER LAB

Ms. Birdwell

Technology Instructor

Did you know????

• Kids spend an average of 1 – 3 hours a day on the computer!

Did you know????• According to the 2000 U.S. Census

– 51% of household have computers in the home!

That was 8 years ago – what do you think that

number is now?

Because of our increased computer usage – it is

important to understand that medical problems can result

from using the computer incorrectly.

There are three main medical conditions that

can occur from improper computer usage.

• Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)• Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)• Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD)

What is Computer Vision Syndrome

(CVS)?

• CVS is a group of eye and vision problems that are a result of prolonged use on a computer.

What causes CVS?• Poor lighting• Glare on computer screen• Improper viewing distances• Poor seating posture• A combination of all the above

What are the symptoms of CVS?

• Eyestrain• Headaches• Blurry Vision• Dry Eyes• Neck and shoulder pain

Good News!• Most CVS symptoms are only

temporary and will go away after stopping computer use.

What is Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)?

• RSI is a syndrome that affects muscles, tendons, and nerves in the hands, arms, and upper back.

What causes RSI?

• RSI is caused when the these areas are kept tense for very long periods of time, due to poor posture and/or repetitive motions.

What are the main types of RSI?

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome• Cubital Tunnel Syndrome• Tendinitis

What are the warning signs of RSI?

• Pain or soreness in the neck, shoulders, upper back, hands, or wrists.

• Tingling, numbness, coldness or loss of sensation.

• Loss of grip strength.

Treatment for RSI

• Treatment usually requires significant changes to work habits and therapy treatment.

What is Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD)?

• MSD’s affect the body’s muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.

What causes MSD?

• MDS’s take a long time to develop and are caused by the type of work or the work environment.

What are the signs of MSD?

• Signs are usually minor aches and pains.

Treatment for MSD• See a doctor for the appropriate

treatment

How can I protect myself?

• Good posture – keep feet flat on the floor, upper back should be naturally rounded, shoulder and arms relaxed at your side

How can I protect myself?

• Monitor – centered in front of you – eyes should be level about 20% from top of screen.

• Keyboard – positioned so you can reach the keys with elbows at your side.

• Mouse – at one side without having to reach or hunch.

How can I protect myself?

• Use proper typing technique– Keep your wrists straight– Let your hands float– Don’t strain your fingers

References• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Repetitive_strain_injury• http://www.stat.rice.edu/~cscott/

rsi.html• http://www.census.gov/prod/

2001pubs/p23-207.pdf